| Methods of synchronizing process flows within hierarchical process flows and systems for use with the methods -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Methods of synchronizing process flows within hierarchical process flows and systems for use with the methodsRelated Patent Categories: Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, And Process, Fuel Cell, Subcombination Thereof Or Methods Of Operating, Catalytic Electrode Structure Or CompositionMethods of synchronizing process flows within hierarchical process flows and systems for use with the methods description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070092783, Methods of synchronizing process flows within hierarchical process flows and systems for use with the methods. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e) from provisional U.S. Application No. 60/729,507, filed Oct. 24, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE [0002] The disclosure relates in general to methods and systems, and more particularly, to methods of synchronizing process flows within hierarchical process flows and systems for use with the methods. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART [0003] Process flows can be used in performing routine operations within a company. An example can include a process flow for handling an order for a product after the order is received from a customer until the product is shipped to the customer, the customer is invoiced, or any combination thereof. Because the process flow will be used repeatedly, large amounts of resources used to develop code customized for the process flow is justified. [0004] Many other process flows can be more complicated, involve a hierarchy, not be routine, or any combination thereof. Such process flows may be customized each time they are used, and therefore, extensive code development is not usually justified. In additional, such process flows may be designed by a business person to perform the process flow correctly when executed by a data processing system or another automated system. The ability to coordinate between different process flows within a hierarchical process flow may be needed or desired. However, the business person may not have the ability, the time, the appropriate resources (e.g., code developers, code testers, etc.), or any combination thereof to generate code to coordinate properly between the process flows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0005] FIG. 1 includes an illustration of a portion of an exemplary hierarchical process flow. [0006] FIG. 2 includes a flowchart for generating a hierarchical process flow that includes synchronization between different process flows within the hierarchical process flow. [0007] FIGS. 3 and 4 include flowcharts for generating and executing using, respectively, the hierarchical flow chart, when a parent process flow waits for a child process flow. [0008] FIGS. 5 and 6 include flowcharts for generating and executing using, respectively, the hierarchical flow chart, when a child process flow waits for a parent process flow. [0009] FIG. 7 includes a diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a general data processing system. [0010] FIG. 8 includes a portion of a project workflow to illustrate how synchronization between process flows within the project workflow can be used in a non-limiting example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0011] A hierarchical process flow can include a plurality of process flows at different levels, wherein different process flows can be synchronized by using status information that is typically gathered for monitoring or used for business purposes unrelated to coordinating process flows within a hierarchical process flow. The hierarchical process flow can include a command within a process flow to wait until an object associated with another process flow has been set to a trigger status value. The hierarchical process flow can be generated without knowing how to generate code for any particular programming language. Also, a flag or other specialized, binary-valued variable does not need to be generated and used. Thus, business people can generate hierarchical process flows, even if those business people have little programming experience or have little time to generate and test newly developed code. The generation and use of the hierarchical process flow can be performed at least in part using a data processing system including a processor readable medium. [0012] A few terms are defined or clarified to aid in understanding the terms as used throughout this specification. The term "child process flow" is intended to mean a process flow that lies at a lower level within the hierarchical process flow in reference to another process flow. For the purposes of this specification, child process flow can include a process flow that is one, two, or more levels lower than the other process flow. [0013] The term "hierarchical process flow" is intended to mean a process flow that includes process flows at different levels. A highest level within the hierarchy can be called a principal process flow. An example of a hierarchical process flow can include a project workflow, a strategy workflow, or the like. [0014] The term "object" is intended to mean a representation of a process flow or a portion thereof, or a representation of an entity (e.g., purchase order, project, phase, strategy, initiative) whose handling the process flow defines. [0015] The term "parent process flow" is intended to mean a process flow that is at a higher level within the hierarchical process flow in reference to another process flow. For the purposes of this specification, parent process flow can include a process flow that is one, two, or more levels higher than the other process flow. [0016] The term "pull," and its variants, is intended to mean to receive information in response to a request for such information. The term "push," and its variants, is intended to mean to receive information without requesting such information. As used in this specification, pulling and pushing is not limited to client-server computing relationships. [0017] The term "status value" is intended to mean a value that reflects a status of an object. The status may include a past, current, or future status of the object. [0018] The term "trigger status value" is intended to mean a status value that satisfies a wait condition. [0019] The term "when" is intended to mean occurring simultaneously or after another point in time or period of time. Continue reading about Methods of synchronizing process flows within hierarchical process flows and systems for use with the methods... Full patent description for Methods of synchronizing process flows within hierarchical process flows and systems for use with the methods Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Methods of synchronizing process flows within hierarchical process flows and systems for use with the methods patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Methods of synchronizing process flows within hierarchical process flows and systems for use with the methods or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Sofc seal and cell thermal management Next Patent Application: Gas diffusion cathode using nanometer sized particles of transition metals for catalysis Industry Class: Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and process ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Methods of synchronizing process flows within hierarchical process flows and systems for use with the methods patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.17414 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Daimler Chrysler , DirecTV , Exxonmobil Chemical Company , Goodyear , Intel , Kyocera Wireless , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
